Well activator



Dec. 19, I1950 J, R, BURRESS 2,534,949

WELL ACTIVATOR Filed Apllil 22, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STAT:

PATENT4 OFFICE! WELL ACTIVATOR Jahn R: Burress, Arlington, Tex.'

Application April 22, 1946, vSerial No.A 663,929

(Cl. :16S-20) in a downwardly direction to' dislodge stubborny parain deposits .in the. formation. Moreover, the invention `includes stabilizing device by which the `imposed f pressure `may be sustained onfthe uid, as well asmeans effective upon raising the device, to. createv apartial vacuum therebelow;,causing a surging action,'further minimiz-- ing the flow deterring characteristics of paraffin' and other matter, thus causing the -well to resume normal or above normal production.

With the lforegoing and other object in view, the `invention'has particular reference, to certain features` of accomplishmenty which will become apparent as the description .proceedstaken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational viewof the invention partly in longi-tudinal section as it appears while being lowered'into a well casing.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view'in vertical sec tion, showing cnlythe packer, suctionelernent and stabilizer.

Figure 3 is a view'in transverse sectiontalfzen on line 3 3 on Figure 1.

Figure Il is a View inf transverse section-taken on line d-ll on Figure 2, and

Figurel 5 is a detail perspective viewof one of the armsof the" stabilizer and its mounting eye.

Continuingrwith a more detailed description of the. drawing, reference is primarilyfinade to Figure' 1 wherein theapparatus'embodying the invention is shown as being lowered intor a well casingV Edif inasmuch as problems'presented by accumulations of parei'lin in a well arewell known to 'those'.versed in the art of oil production, it is considered unnecessary to enter into detail concerning these problems, hence the following description will deal oniy with the invention'and Vits eilectI to encounter andovercorne conditions ina well -rwhich diminish or, insorne cases', cutoff entirely the production of oil from awell.

The invention consists primarily of a frame comprised of parallel' straps il, joined together at each end byplates i2, the lower plate supportingan anvil or striking-plate` i3 forahammer ,f

i4. Screws I5 secure the anvil I4 onto the lower plate I2.

The frame in which the hammer i4 4reciprocates is suspended by a rod assembly or wireline While being run into the casing, as shown in Figure l, the entire assembly is supportedby the hammer. However, it will become apparent presently that when the fluid inthe casing. is encountered, downward movement of 'the ap- -paratus is suspended, yet the hammer I4 may continue downwardly, striking the anvil I3 with great force to accomplish the results toberde scribed. Obviously, the yhammer may be `raised and lowered repeatedly, striking the anvil as v.f many times as the conditions of the well may require, to loosen-the formation :thus relieving the clogged conditionfof the well sothat ow may be resumed or increased.

Threaded into the lower plate I2 and the anvil'.

i3 is a rod il, having a shoulder I8 intermediate its ends. Threaded onto the lower vend of the rod is a nut I 9, retaining-1a washer-2G;v spaced below the anvil i3 isa suction cup 2l of rubber or equivalent material, in which is disposed .a reinforcing plate 22, the latter being secured Ato protuberances 2G 'on its upper surface which en-4 gage the underside of the flange 25 and maintain spaced relationship of the said ange and 'plate 23. Being thus spacedapart, an open areal 2l is denedbetween these elements, communicating with which is a series of apertures 23, eX-J tendingthrough the reinforcing plate 22, cup

2 I` and underlying vplate 23. Fluid entrapped above the cup 2l, for the purpose to befpresentn ly explained, is enabled to ilow slowly baci; into' the well `tlirough.l',l1ese aperturesv and :between theprojections 26 on the ilange25.

Below and supporting the cup 2| and the .described Yelements vassociated*therewith is a lcircular hub 29 having upper and lower annular:

flanges, the lower lange being beveled, as shown at 3). The hub is radially tapped and threaded to receive `pins 3i (Fig. 5) having eyes 32 formed thereon. A series of radially extending arms 33 are dispo-sed to receive in their bifurcated ends the eyes 32 of the threaded pins .ilY in such manner that the arms may move in a Vertical plane on their pivots 35. Further reference to these arms will be made presently.

The hub 29, ange 25, cup 2 I'. and the reinforcing plate 22 are all.. heldin nxed relationship and in spaced relation to the anvil I 3 by virtue of the fact that the hub 29 bears against the shoulder I8 of the depending rod I'I and further, that a sleeve 36 embraces the rod I'I, with one end bearing against the plate I2 supporting anvil I3 while its lower end bears against the reinforcing plate 22 lying in the cup 2i. Thus, all of the described parts are held immovably on the rod I'I.

Movably mounted on the rod Il, below the shoulder i8 thereof is a sleeve 37 whose upper end is exteriorly threaded to enter a threaded central opening in a plate 38 which latter is intel'- posed between the hub 29 and a casing packer 39. It is obvious from an examination of Figure 2 that there is nothing to prohibit free vertical movement of the packer 39 and overlying plate 38 by virtue of the sliding engagement with rod I'I of the sleeve 37 on which these elements are mounted. Relative displacement of the packer 39 and plate 38 is obviated by a washer 4U, welded or otherwise secured to the sleeve 3? to bear against the underside of the packer 3S, as shown in Figure 2. Downward displacement of the sleeve 3i and consequently the packer 39 is limited by the washer 29, held in place on the end of rod II by nut I9.

While the tool is being lowered into the casing, as shown in Figure l, the packing element 39 is unexpanded and its normal diameter is less than the inner diameter of the casing IG. More over, the combined weight of the packer, sleeve 31 and plate 38 cause these elements to move downwardly to be supported by the washer 29. When the described elements are in lowered position, the radial arms 33, which serve in the capacity of well known slips, lie in the angular plane Shown in Figure 1 and are supported on the beveled lower flange 3i) of the hub 29.

The outer ends of each of the arms 33 have hardened, dual points 4I and the distance between axially aligned arms 33, when extended is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the casing I0. This provision is made so that when pressure is encountered by the packer 39 and the anvil I3 is struck a blow by the hammer i4, the points 4I of the arms 33 will bite into the casing walls and will remain stationary while their pivot points will be thrust by the impact of the hammer to a point approximately 1 below dead center, thereby stabilizing the tool between the mechanical lock supplied by the arms 33 and the pressure of well uid below the packer 39. Obviously continued blows applied by the hammer will impose further pressure on the head of iiuid in the casing, yet the extended arms 33 will not yield to the increasing pressure of the i'iuid as it is forced downwardly in the casing and outwardly into the formation therebelow.

In operation, the tool is lowered in the casing as described and when iuid is encountered in the casing, the packer 39 will expand against the walls thereof, and at the same time will move upwardly, causing the plate 38 to advance upon the now inclined arms 33, bringing its annular lifting rib 42 against these arms, raising the same collectively to a position where their points il bite into the casing walls. As pressure on the fluid increases, upward pressure on the arms 33 increases and the hammer lli is raised and permitted to drop repeatedly on the anvil I3 which not only imposes greater pressure on. the fluid but reverses the inclined positions of the arms 3S, as described, to hold the tool, other than the hammer, against upward displacement` Pressure on the well iiuid is thus held and increased until it is determined that the pressure is adequate. Following this operation, the tool is pulled upwardly. overcoming the radial pressure of the arms 33, whereupon the latter drop downwardly onto the beveled flange 30 of the hub 29, as exemplified in Figure 1. It will be understood that when the tool is initially introduced into the well, a certain amount of fluid will bypass the packer 39 and will rise above the cup 2 I. This is expected and is important in further carrying out the function of the apparatus in that the uid trapped above the cup 2I serves as a liquid seal, closing for a short period of time the apertures 28 of the cup and is effective to expand the walls of the cup against the well casing as the tool is further moved towards the surface.

By rapidly pulling the apparatus upwardly, a suction is created in the casing therebelow which, combined with the pressurizing effects previously described, causes a surging in the casing well calculated to dislodge even the most obstinate deposits of paraiiin and other matter which tends to close the interstices in the formation restraining natural iiow of liuid. Continued or repeated operation of the tool to alternately provide pressure and suction in the casing depends upon the condition of the well but actual experiments have disclosed that the most diiiicult wells require but a minimum number of the described operational cycles to effect resumption of production.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A well activator including a frame arranged to enter the casing of a well and having an anvil in its lower end, a rod connected to and depending from said anvil, a suction cup mounted on said rod in sealing engagement with said well casing, a sleeve slidable on said rod below and in spaced relation to said suction cup, a well packer disposed on said sleeve in sealing engagement with said well casing, a hub iixed on Said rod between said suction cup and packer, a series of radially disposed casing engaging arms pivoted to said hub for movement into and out of gripping engagement with the walls of said casing and adapted upon downward movement of said frame relative to said packer to be engaged and extended into gripping engagement with the walls of said casing by said packer under pressure of fiuid therebelow, to hold said packer againstb upward displacement, and means reciprocable in said frame to impinge said anvil for driving said packer downwardly against said fluid pressure.

2. A well activating device including a frame and anvil for suspension in the casing of a well, a rod connected to and depending from said anvil, a sleeve slidably disposed on said rod, a Well packer mounted on said sleeve to be moved in relation to said frame and expanded into sealing engagement with said casing by iiuid in said casing, radial arms pivotally mounted on and spaced circumferentially about said rod above said packer for movement into and out of gripping relationship with said casing and engageable and extendible by said packer into engagement with the walls of said casing to hold said packer against upward displacement by pressure of said casing fluid, means reciprocable in saidv frame for imposing repeated blows onsaid anvil to drive said packer downwardly in said casing and suction means mounted on said rod for sealing engagement with said casing above said packer for creating a partial vacuum below said packer upon upward movement of said device.

3. Apparatus for restoring the flow of wells including a frame for suspension in the casing of a Well, a rod connected to and depending from said frame, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a packer mounted on said sleeve for sealing engagement with said casing and capable of limited vertical displacement on Said rod below said frame, means also on said rod above said sleeve pivoted for movement into and out of gripping engagement with said casing, said pivoted means being engaged and actuated by said packer under pressure of uid therebelow for engaging said casing and securing said packer against other than downward movement in said casing, means reciprocable in. said frame for exerting a downward force on said packer, suction means mounted on said rod and in sealing engagement with said casing above said packer and pivoted means for creating a partial vacuum in said casing upon upward movement of said frame lifting said pivoted means out of engagement with said packer thereby disengaging said pivoted means from said casing.

4. Apparatus for restoring the now of fluid in cased static wells including a frame, a rod affixed to and depending from said frame, a packer slidably mounted on said rod in sealing engagement with the well casing and movable vertically in relation to said frame, means expandable into and out of gripping engagement with said well casing and mounted on said rod above said Packer and engaged and actuated by said packer upon encounter with uid in the casing of a well :for securing said packer against other than downward displacement in said casing, means reciprocable in said frame for repeatedly imposing a downward force on said packer against pressure of fluid in said casing and means also in sealing engagement with said casing above said packer 4 and eXpansible casing gripping means for creating suction in said casing upon upward movement of said apparatus to disengage said casing gripping means from said packer.

5. Apparatus for restoring ow of fluid in a cased static well including a frame, a rod attached to and depending from said frame, a resilient expansion cup slidably supported by said rod for limited longitudinal movement thereon below said frame in sealing engagement with the well casing, and expandable upon downward movement of said frame by encounter with uid in the casing of a well, a plurality of radial arms pivotally mounted on and spaced circumferentially about said rod for movement into and out of gripping engagement with said casing above said expansion cup and engaged and actuated by the expansion cup into casing gripping engagement for securing the expansion cup against upward displacement by Suid in said casing, means on said frame for imposing a downward force on said expansion cup, and suction means on said rod above said radial arms in sealing engagement with said casing adapted to create a suction in the well casing below said apparatus upon upward movement thereof to disengage said radial arms from said expansion cup and surrounding said well casing.

6. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 5, further deiined in that the suction means is apertured to by-pass well fluid above and below the same.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further dened in that arms are pivoted at their inner ends to a mounting surrounding said rod and whose outer ends are pointed to bite into the walls of a casing when extended.

JOHN R. BURRESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,086,050 Hoch et al. Feb. 7, 1914 1,328,569 Layne Jan. 20, 1920 2,355,259 Bancroft et al Aug. 8, 1944 

